Church of St. Martin, Ypres, from the series Ruins of War

The Canadian War Memorial Fund commissioned Ruins of War to commemorate significant battle sites for the Canadian military in World War I. For this six-print series, Frank Brangwyn depicted select moments in the war and shattered urban landscapes. Though a testimony to the heroism and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers, these prints also testify to the violent plague of destruction brought about by war. The 13th-century Saint Martin Cathedral was badly damaged during the war, leaving only the nave standing, as shown in the background of this image. The second battle of Ypres, Belgium, marked the first major engagement for the Canadian military in World War I. After a four-day battle consisting of multiple rounds of chlorine-gas exposure and counterattacks, Canadian soldiers successfully held their ground until British troops arrived. Barely noticeable in the foreground of this scene are soldiers pulling bodies out of the rubble. Postcard from the 1914–15 campaign, Cloth Hall and Saint Martin Cathedral, Ypres.